🚀 go-pugleaf

--------------A45264E3D5D4D38FAAB7AEF9
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Criswell The Psychic Weatherman wrote:

> "Roger R." wrote:
>
> > "Criswell The Psychic Weatherman" <ssenate@mindless.com> wrote in message
> > news:3E4BD4BD.8C511CE0@mindless.com...
> > > pissed off wrote:
> > >
> > > > "Criswell The Psychic Weatherman" <ssenate@mindless.com> wrote in
> > message
> > > > news:3E4B9076.26037888@mindless.com...
> > > >
> > > > >You must be a very bad shill for Intuit, if you're recommending using
> > > > anything and everything that is not an Intuit product.
> > > > > Maybe you're not a shill at all, and "pissed off" has a lot of
> > misplaced
> > > > anger.
> > > >
> > > > Jim Turner recommends that I get a refund from Intuit and then stop
> > > > complaining about their corporate abuse. Paying me a refund has no
> > impact in
> > > > Intuit. Publicly complaining might have an impact. Jim Turner knows
> > this. By
> > > > labeling protest as "immaturity," and seeking to lie and misrepresent
> > the
> > > > complaint, he is acting as if he is Intuit's agent.
> > > >
> > > > >I heard that, not once, not twice, but three times.  What kind of a
> > shill
> > > > would tell you to hurt the company he is shilling for?  >A very poor
> > shill,
> > > > or one who is not a shill at all.
> > > >
> > > > My getting a refund doesn't hurt Intuit. My complaining on the Internet
> > > > might have the effect of putting pressure on Intuit to back off from its
> > > > corporate abuse. Jim Turner has misrepresent the facts that gave rise to
> > the
> > > > complaint, and labeled any protest as "immaturity."
> > > >
> > > > By doing these things, he is acting as Intuit's shill.
> > > >
> > > > > There is that *and* concept again.  "pissed off" wants to run the
> > software
> > > > *and* complain about it.
> > > >
> > > > Now *you* are lying. I do not want to "run the software and complain
> > about
> > > > it." I haven't run the software since I figured out what the issue was.
> > I
> > > > was waiting for Intuit to back off, and complaining publicly in the
> > > > meantime. I'm going to keep complaining. It is not "immature" to protest
> > a
> > > > corporation's abusive actions.
> > > >
> > > > > It's wrong to complain in a place where your complaint can't and won't
> > be
> > > > resolved.  You need to complain in a place
> > > > > where it will be heard, acknowledged, and possibly resolved.  This is
> > not
> > > > such a place.  More misplaced anger.
> > > >
> > > > So Criswell, who are *you* working for? You say it's "wrong to complain
> > in a
> > > > place where your complaint can't be an won't be resolved." Who says it
> > can't
> > > > be or won't be resolved as the result of outraged current and former
> > > > customers publicly protesting Intuit's abusive tactics?
> > >
> > > I see it now.  Just because I have an opinion that you don't like, even
> > when I'm
> > > agreeing with you, I must also be a shill.  In fact, everyone in the
> > entire
> > > world is an Intuit shill.  Paranoia is an interesting worldview, as
> > everything
> > > in the world continues to reinforce it.
> > >
> > > Who do I work for?  Read my posts.  I've made no secret of that.
> > >
> > > The C-Dilla issue has been posted to the taxes newsgroups by just about
> > > everyone.  PC magazine wrote about it.  The Wall Street Journal wrote
> > about it.
> > > The word is already out on C-Dilla, but perhaps not yet in
> > alt.biz.accounting,
> > > as that is not a newsgroup I normally read.
> > >
> > > If you feel you must add your voice to the thousands that are already
> > screaming,
> > > go right ahead, but one screaming voice in a crowd of thousands isn't
> > likely to
> > > make the screaming thousands any louder.  Intuit is already getting the
> > > message.  Intuit is already having to individually process every refund
> > > request.  Can you imagine how many they must process every day as more and
> > more
> > > people decide that they don't want C-Dilla?  Your single individual refund
> > will
> > > have little impact, as will your single individual complaint here.  What
> > will
> > > have impact is the multiplied factor of all of those complaints directed
> > towards
> > > Intuit and the multiplied factor of having to process all of those refunds
> > > individually.
> > >
> > > > Let's be clear about this.
> > > >
> > > > Intuit included spyware in its personal finance software. If you don't
> > allow
> > > > Intuit to place software on your computer that has the capability of
> > spying
> > > > on you, then your tax software won't work. This is an outrageous
> > betrayal of
> > > > trust by Intuit. It is arrogant and stupid.
> > >
> > > You could say that.  Technically, C-Dilla isn't spyware, because spyware
> > reports
> > > information back to the host without your approval.  The only information
> > being
> > > reported is your activation code, and you freely allowed that.  However,
> > C-Dilla
> > > does run in the background and does use and waste resources.  In a world
> > where
> > > everyone abided by license agreements, we wouldn't need C-Dilla.  However,
> > there
> > > is nothing preventing me from making copies and selling them myself,
> > > undercutting Intuit, and pocketing the cash.  In fact, someone in this
> > thread,
> > > or a similar one has admitted to doing this for several years.  [This is
> > in the
> > > taxes newsgroups, and you may not have seen it]  You feel it's betrayal,
> > and I
> > > would agree, but you fail to realize that Intuit would like to protect
> > some of
> > > the investment that they put into making TurboTax.  Do you feel they don't
> > have
> > > that right?  Should Intuit provide tax software just so everyone could
> > copy it,
> > > and they would lose money from lack of sales?  Is it Intuit's fault that
> > CD
> > > burners are rather common and cheap and so are blank CD's?  If you were
> > making
> > > the decisions at Intuit, how would you protect your licensed property?
> > What
> > > would you, as the decision maker at Intuit, do?
> > >
> > > > There is a long tradition in America of people protesting corporate
> > abuse.
> > > > Apparently, Jim Turner, you and others think that software companies are
> > > > immune from criticism, and regard anyone who criticizes a corporation as
> > > > "immature" for doing so. Hey, welcome to the Republican Party!!
> > >
> > > Again, you have trouble with reading comprehension.  I did not say to
> > abandon
> > > your protest.  I said it would be more effective if it was more directly
> > pointed
> > > towards Intuit.  You're free to complain to anyone anywhere, but if you
> > complain
> > > where no action can be taken to resolve the complaint, you have just
> > wasted a
> > > lot of energy, achieved nothing, and probably increased your own
> > frustrations.
> > > If I had a problem with a particular store in a particular mall, would it
> > make
> > > sense to protest in a different mall that didn't have that store?  Or in
> > that
> > > other mall where the store in question did not have that problem?
> > >
> > > In my opinion, the word is out on C-Dilla.  The damage is done.  Intuit is
> > > already feeling it, by having to process the refunds, and realizing that
> > every
> > > published article gets the word out.  I don't know how many people read
> > this or
> > > the other newsgroup.  I just feel that the amount of people you will reach
> > by
> > > this method will be small, and likely already know of the problem.  Thus,
> > I feel
> > > your protest is ineffective.  Is that so hard to understand?
> > >
> > > Did you suggest "Flood Intuit's website with e-mails of protest for
> > C-Dilla"?  I
> > > didn't see you call for such an action.  That might be more effective.
> > You feel
> > > Intuit should re-engineer TurboTax this year without C-Dilla.  Intuit is
> > more
> > > concerned with getting tax updates out as some of the laws are very
> > recent.
> > > They have actually lagged behind the other software packages in their
> > updates,
> > > and I suspect dealing with C-Dilla is the reason.  They can't re-engineer
> > it out
> > > this year.  They spent too much time and effort incorporating it.
> > >
> > > Has Microsoft removed Internet Explorer from Windows, as the courts
> > ordered them
> > > to?  They can't.  They designed it in intentionally.
> > >
> > > The two different versions of TurboTax [with and without C-Dilla] would
> > not be
> > > compatible, and would you want two different TurboTax's on your same
> > computer?
> > > They will almost certainly not use it next year, but the question remains,
> > what
> > > if anything will they use next year to protect their license agreement and
> > > investment?  [Assuming that C-Dilla hasn't permanently poisoned the
> > TurboTax
> > > name]
> > >
> > > Instead of calling everyone a shill, ask yourself what you would do, as
> > decision
> > > maker at Intuit, to protect your license and investment and profits from
> > being
> > > destroyed by CD-burners.  I'd like to hear your answer.
> > > --
> > > "A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses;
> > > it is an idea that possesses the mind."  Robert Bolton
> > > Criswell The Psychic Weatherman
> > > ssenate@mindless.com
> > >
> > >
> > I'm going to disagree with you somewhat. True, a single voice in a crowd is
> > unimportant by itself, but the demonstration needs to be continued until it
> > begins to have a visible effect. It hasn't yet, so complaints are still
> > valuable. There are people who have not yet bought their software this year,
> > and they may sort of drop in to this or a similar newsgroup just to get a
> > feel for what is happening this tax season. Sort of "tax dilatants", as it
> > were. Continued messages should be here to provide the information they
> > need.
> >
> > So let's get out there and evangelize! Spread the word! The Devil is ....
> > Oops, I mean, Intuit is coming and it is the end of times! Save their souls
> > .... Oops - computers!
> >
> > Forgive me. I do sometimes get carried away with hyperbole at the keyboard.
> > <grin>
> >
> > Roger R.
>
> Based on reading what others are saying, I'm going to concede this point.
> Intuit doesn't think C-Dilla problems are of much concern to them, which is the
> ostrich response, even after being written about in the WSJ and PC Magazine, and
> probably many other places.
>
> By all means, get the word out, anywhere and everywhere it should be gotten
> out.  If Intuit feels they can just play ostrich on this, then maybe they need
> to get their ostrich heads yanked out of the sand and forced to deal with the
> reality of daylight.  At this point, it looks like they're not willing to do
> this on their own.
>
> This is what Intuit has to say about how SafeCast/C-Dilla works.  According to
> this page, it only contacts Intuit once during installation, and then creates a
> set of encrypted permission licensing files.  C-Dilla needs to be running [and
> using resources] to allow TurboTax to print, e-file, or save a return as a
> .pdf.  C-Dilla contains the decrypter for those files.  Once the files exist,
> there is no need for SafeCast/C-Dilla to contact Intuit or any other source.
>
> Of course, the doulbe edged sword question still remains- If Intuit doesn't trut
> me, and their license agreement flat out says so, why should I trust them?
> Likewise, if I do trust Intuit, why are they not trusting me in return?  Don't
> just flat out take my word for it.  Read what Intuit has to say for yourself.
>
> http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/servicesupport/default.asp?docid=131&CategoryId=119
>
> http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/servicesupport/default.asp?docid=137&CategoryId=121

Intuit has now put a SafeCast removal tool on their website, because they didn't feel
it was necessary to include one with TurboTax.  It's an admission that they screwed up,
but the cure is worse than the disease, as once you remove SafeCast, you can't print,
e-file, or save your return as a .pdf.  I haven't used TurboTax [or any Intuit product
for that matter] since 2001.

Does SafeCast/C-Dilla show up on the Control Panel/Remove Programs dialog box?  If not,
why not?  If not, by itself this constitutes suspicious software behavior.  Viruses,
spyware, and other potentially intrusive and malicious programs by design remain
invisible to the user.  Why would SafeCast want to put itself in that category?

SafeCast/C-Dilla removal instructions and uninstaller, FWIW.

http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/default.asp?platform=1&docid=815

I can't vouch for the following workaround working after 2001, as I didn't want
TurboTax or any Intuit product after the installation of the unremovable unwanted MSIE,
but, FWIW,

I also found out that I didn't need to have the disk handy to run TT once I figured out
that all was looking for was the video files.  It wasn't difficult.  It asked me for
the directory they were in.  So, I made one, copied the videos onto my hard drive, and
told it that's where they were.  It never asked me to insert the disk after that.
Knowing how easy that undocumented workaround was, I'd imagine that the
SafeCast/C-Dilla verification files once created on the hard drive could also be copied
to another computer in the same directory, and *ding* a full working copy.  I'm sure TT
and SafeCast have thought of this, and that this wouldn't work, but has anyone tried
it, and what was the result?  For those who have TurboTax on two computers, it
shouldn't be difficult to find files created matching the installation date and time,
and comparing them.  In keeping with the suspicious intent of SafeCast, I would think
they would be "hidden", "read-only" and/or "system" files.
--
"A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses;
it is an idea that possesses the mind."  Robert Bolton
Criswell The Psychic Weatherman
ssenate@mindless.com


--------------A45264E3D5D4D38FAAB7AEF9
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
Criswell The Psychic Weatherman wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>"Roger R." wrote:
<p>> "Criswell The Psychic Weatherman" &lt;ssenate@mindless.com> wrote
in message
<br>> <a href="news:3E4BD4BD.8C511CE0@mindless.com">news:3E4BD4BD.8C511CE0@mindless.com</a>...
<br>> > pissed off wrote:
<br>> >
<br>> > > "Criswell The Psychic Weatherman" &lt;ssenate@mindless.com> wrote
in
<br>> message
<br>> > > <a href="news:3E4B9076.26037888@mindless.com">news:3E4B9076.26037888@mindless.com</a>...
<br>> > >
<br>> > > >You must be a very bad shill for Intuit, if you're recommending
using
<br>> > > anything and everything that is not an Intuit product.
<br>> > > > Maybe you're not a shill at all, and "pissed off" has a lot
of
<br>> misplaced
<br>> > > anger.
<br>> > >
<br>> > > Jim Turner recommends that I get a refund from Intuit and then
stop
<br>> > > complaining about their corporate abuse. Paying me a refund has
no
<br>> impact in
<br>> > > Intuit. Publicly complaining might have an impact. Jim Turner
knows
<br>> this. By
<br>> > > labeling protest as "immaturity," and seeking to lie and misrepresent
<br>> the
<br>> > > complaint, he is acting as if he is Intuit's agent.
<br>> > >
<br>> > > >I heard that, not once, not twice, but three times.&nbsp; What
kind of a
<br>> shill
<br>> > > would tell you to hurt the company he is shilling for?&nbsp;
>A very poor
<br>> shill,
<br>> > > or one who is not a shill at all.
<br>> > >
<br>> > > My getting a refund doesn't hurt Intuit. My complaining on the
Internet
<br>> > > might have the effect of putting pressure on Intuit to back off
from its
<br>> > > corporate abuse. Jim Turner has misrepresent the facts that gave
rise to
<br>> the
<br>> > > complaint, and labeled any protest as "immaturity."
<br>> > >
<br>> > > By doing these things, he is acting as Intuit's shill.
<br>> > >
<br>> > > > There is that *and* concept again.&nbsp; "pissed off" wants
to run the
<br>> software
<br>> > > *and* complain about it.
<br>> > >
<br>> > > Now *you* are lying. I do not want to "run the software and complain
<br>> about
<br>> > > it." I haven't run the software since I figured out what the
issue was.
<br>> I
<br>> > > was waiting for Intuit to back off, and complaining publicly
in the
<br>> > > meantime. I'm going to keep complaining. It is not "immature"
to protest
<br>> a
<br>> > > corporation's abusive actions.
<br>> > >
<br>> > > > It's wrong to complain in a place where your complaint can't
and won't
<br>> be
<br>> > > resolved.&nbsp; You need to complain in a place
<br>> > > > where it will be heard, acknowledged, and possibly resolved.&nbsp;
This is
<br>> not
<br>> > > such a place.&nbsp; More misplaced anger.
<br>> > >
<br>> > > So Criswell, who are *you* working for? You say it's "wrong to
complain
<br>> in a
<br>> > > place where your complaint can't be an won't be resolved." Who
says it
<br>> can't
<br>> > > be or won't be resolved as the result of outraged current and
former
<br>> > > customers publicly protesting Intuit's abusive tactics?
<br>> >
<br>> > I see it now.&nbsp; Just because I have an opinion that you don't
like, even
<br>> when I'm
<br>> > agreeing with you, I must also be a shill.&nbsp; In fact, everyone
in the
<br>> entire
<br>> > world is an Intuit shill.&nbsp; Paranoia is an interesting worldview,
as
<br>> everything
<br>> > in the world continues to reinforce it.
<br>> >
<br>> > Who do I work for?&nbsp; Read my posts.&nbsp; I've made no secret
of that.
<br>> >
<br>> > The C-Dilla issue has been posted to the taxes newsgroups by just
about
<br>> > everyone.&nbsp; PC magazine wrote about it.&nbsp; The Wall Street
Journal wrote
<br>> about it.
<br>> > The word is already out on C-Dilla, but perhaps not yet in
<br>> alt.biz.accounting,
<br>> > as that is not a newsgroup I normally read.
<br>> >
<br>> > If you feel you must add your voice to the thousands that are already
<br>> screaming,
<br>> > go right ahead, but one screaming voice in a crowd of thousands
isn't
<br>> likely to
<br>> > make the screaming thousands any louder.&nbsp; Intuit is already
getting the
<br>> > message.&nbsp; Intuit is already having to individually process
every refund
<br>> > request.&nbsp; Can you imagine how many they must process every
day as more and
<br>> more
<br>> > people decide that they don't want C-Dilla?&nbsp; Your single individual
refund
<br>> will
<br>> > have little impact, as will your single individual complaint here.&nbsp;
What
<br>> will
<br>> > have impact is the multiplied factor of all of those complaints
directed
<br>> towards
<br>> > Intuit and the multiplied factor of having to process all of those
refunds
<br>> > individually.
<br>> >
<br>> > > Let's be clear about this.
<br>> > >
<br>> > > Intuit included spyware in its personal finance software. If
you don't
<br>> allow
<br>> > > Intuit to place software on your computer that has the capability
of
<br>> spying
<br>> > > on you, then your tax software won't work. This is an outrageous
<br>> betrayal of
<br>> > > trust by Intuit. It is arrogant and stupid.
<br>> >
<br>> > You could say that.&nbsp; Technically, C-Dilla isn't spyware, because
spyware
<br>> reports
<br>> > information back to the host without your approval.&nbsp; The only
information
<br>> being
<br>> > reported is your activation code, and you freely allowed that.&nbsp;
However,
<br>> C-Dilla
<br>> > does run in the background and does use and waste resources.&nbsp;
In a world
<br>> where
<br>> > everyone abided by license agreements, we wouldn't need C-Dilla.&nbsp;
However,
<br>> there
<br>> > is nothing preventing me from making copies and selling them myself,
<br>> > undercutting Intuit, and pocketing the cash.&nbsp; In fact, someone
in this
<br>> thread,
<br>> > or a similar one has admitted to doing this for several years.&nbsp;
[This is
<br>> in the
<br>> > taxes newsgroups, and you may not have seen it]&nbsp; You feel
it's betrayal,
<br>> and I
<br>> > would agree, but you fail to realize that Intuit would like to
protect
<br>> some of
<br>> > the investment that they put into making TurboTax.&nbsp; Do you
feel they don't
<br>> have
<br>> > that right?&nbsp; Should Intuit provide tax software just so everyone
could
<br>> copy it,
<br>> > and they would lose money from lack of sales?&nbsp; Is it Intuit's
fault that
<br>> CD
<br>> > burners are rather common and cheap and so are blank CD's?&nbsp;
If you were
<br>> making
<br>> > the decisions at Intuit, how would you protect your licensed property?
<br>> What
<br>> > would you, as the decision maker at Intuit, do?
<br>> >
<br>> > > There is a long tradition in America of people protesting corporate
<br>> abuse.
<br>> > > Apparently, Jim Turner, you and others think that software companies
are
<br>> > > immune from criticism, and regard anyone who criticizes a corporation
as
<br>> > > "immature" for doing so. Hey, welcome to the Republican Party!!
<br>> >
<br>> > Again, you have trouble with reading comprehension.&nbsp; I did
not say to
<br>> abandon
<br>> > your protest.&nbsp; I said it would be more effective if it was
more directly
<br>> pointed
<br>> > towards Intuit.&nbsp; You're free to complain to anyone anywhere,
but if you
<br>> complain
<br>> > where no action can be taken to resolve the complaint, you have
just
<br>> wasted a
<br>> > lot of energy, achieved nothing, and probably increased your own
<br>> frustrations.
<br>> > If I had a problem with a particular store in a particular mall,
would it
<br>> make
<br>> > sense to protest in a different mall that didn't have that store?&nbsp;
Or in
<br>> that
<br>> > other mall where the store in question did not have that problem?
<br>> >
<br>> > In my opinion, the word is out on C-Dilla.&nbsp; The damage is
done.&nbsp; Intuit is
<br>> > already feeling it, by having to process the refunds, and realizing
that
<br>> every
<br>> > published article gets the word out.&nbsp; I don't know how many
people read
<br>> this or
<br>> > the other newsgroup.&nbsp; I just feel that the amount of people
you will reach
<br>> by
<br>> > this method will be small, and likely already know of the problem.&nbsp;
Thus,
<br>> I feel
<br>> > your protest is ineffective.&nbsp; Is that so hard to understand?
<br>> >
<br>> > Did you suggest "Flood Intuit's website with e-mails of protest
for
<br>> C-Dilla"?&nbsp; I
<br>> > didn't see you call for such an action.&nbsp; That might be more
effective.
<br>> You feel
<br>> > Intuit should re-engineer TurboTax this year without C-Dilla.&nbsp;
Intuit is
<br>> more
<br>> > concerned with getting tax updates out as some of the laws are
very
<br>> recent.
<br>> > They have actually lagged behind the other software packages in
their
<br>> updates,
<br>> > and I suspect dealing with C-Dilla is the reason.&nbsp; They can't
re-engineer
<br>> it out
<br>> > this year.&nbsp; They spent too much time and effort incorporating
it.
<br>> >
<br>> > Has Microsoft removed Internet Explorer from Windows, as the courts
<br>> ordered them
<br>> > to?&nbsp; They can't.&nbsp; They designed it in intentionally.
<br>> >
<br>> > The two different versions of TurboTax [with and without C-Dilla]
would
<br>> not be
<br>> > compatible, and would you want two different TurboTax's on your
same
<br>> computer?
<br>> > They will almost certainly not use it next year, but the question
remains,
<br>> what
<br>> > if anything will they use next year to protect their license agreement
and
<br>> > investment?&nbsp; [Assuming that C-Dilla hasn't permanently poisoned
the
<br>> TurboTax
<br>> > name]
<br>> >
<br>> > Instead of calling everyone a shill, ask yourself what you would
do, as
<br>> decision
<br>> > maker at Intuit, to protect your license and investment and profits
from
<br>> being
<br>> > destroyed by CD-burners.&nbsp; I'd like to hear your answer.
<br>> > --
<br>> > "A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses;
<br>> > it is an idea that possesses the mind."&nbsp; Robert Bolton
<br>> > Criswell The Psychic Weatherman
<br>> > ssenate@mindless.com
<br>> >
<br>> >
<br>> I'm going to disagree with you somewhat. True, a single voice in
a crowd is
<br>> unimportant by itself, but the demonstration needs to be continued
until it
<br>> begins to have a visible effect. It hasn't yet, so complaints are
still
<br>> valuable. There are people who have not yet bought their software
this year,
<br>> and they may sort of drop in to this or a similar newsgroup just
to get a
<br>> feel for what is happening this tax season. Sort of "tax dilatants",
as it
<br>> were. Continued messages should be here to provide the information
they
<br>> need.
<br>>
<br>> So let's get out there and evangelize! Spread the word! The Devil
is ....
<br>> Oops, I mean, Intuit is coming and it is the end of times! Save their
souls
<br>> .... Oops - computers!
<br>>
<br>> Forgive me. I do sometimes get carried away with hyperbole at the
keyboard.
<br>> &lt;grin>
<br>>
<br>> Roger R.
<p>Based on reading what others are saying, I'm going to concede this point.
<br>Intuit doesn't think C-Dilla problems are of much concern to them,
which is the
<br>ostrich response, even after being written about in the WSJ and PC
Magazine, and
<br>probably many other places.
<p>By all means, get the word out, anywhere and everywhere it should be
gotten
<br>out.&nbsp; If Intuit feels they can just play ostrich on this, then
maybe they need
<br>to get their ostrich heads yanked out of the sand and forced to deal
with the
<br>reality of daylight.&nbsp; At this point, it looks like they're not
willing to do
<br>this on their own.
<p>This is what Intuit has to say about how SafeCast/C-Dilla works.&nbsp;
According to
<br>this page, it only contacts Intuit once during installation, and then
creates a
<br>set of encrypted permission licensing files.&nbsp; C-Dilla needs to
be running [and
<br>using resources] to allow TurboTax to print, e-file, or save a return
as a
<br>.pdf.&nbsp; C-Dilla contains the decrypter for those files.&nbsp; Once
the files exist,
<br>there is no need for SafeCast/C-Dilla to contact Intuit or any other
source.
<p>Of course, the doulbe edged sword question still remains- If Intuit
doesn't trut
<br>me, and their license agreement flat out says so, why should I trust
them?
<br>Likewise, if I do trust Intuit, why are they not trusting me in return?&nbsp;
Don't
<br>just flat out take my word for it.&nbsp; Read what Intuit has to say
for yourself.
<p><a href="http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/servicesupport/default.asp?docid=131&CategoryId=119">http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/servicesupport/default.asp?docid=131&amp;CategoryId=119</a>
<p><a href="http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/servicesupport/default.asp?docid=137&CategoryId=121">http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/servicesupport/default.asp?docid=137&amp;CategoryId=121</a></blockquote>
Intuit has now put a SafeCast removal tool on their website, because they
didn't feel it was necessary to include one with TurboTax.&nbsp; It's an
admission that they screwed up, but the cure is worse than the disease,
as once you remove SafeCast, you can't print, e-file, or save your return
as a .pdf.&nbsp; I haven't used TurboTax [or any Intuit product for that
matter] since 2001.
<p>Does SafeCast/C-Dilla show up on the Control Panel/Remove Programs dialog
box?&nbsp; If not, why not?&nbsp; If not, by itself this constitutes suspicious
software behavior.&nbsp; Viruses, spyware, and other potentially intrusive
and malicious programs by design remain invisible to the user.&nbsp; Why
would SafeCast want to put itself in that category?
<p>SafeCast/C-Dilla removal instructions and uninstaller, FWIW.
<p><A HREF="http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/default.asp?platform=1&docid=815">http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/default.asp?platform=1&amp;docid=815</A>
<p>I can't vouch for the following workaround working after 2001, as I
didn't want TurboTax or any Intuit product after the installation of the
unremovable unwanted MSIE, but, FWIW,
<p>I also found out that I didn't need to have the disk handy to run TT
once I figured out that all was looking for was the video files.&nbsp;
It wasn't difficult.&nbsp; It asked me for the directory they were in.&nbsp;
So, I made one, copied the videos onto my hard drive, and told it that's
where they were.&nbsp; It never asked me to insert the disk after that.&nbsp;
Knowing how easy that undocumented workaround was, I'd imagine that the
SafeCast/C-Dilla verification files once created on the hard drive could
also be copied to another computer in the same directory, and *ding* a
full working copy.&nbsp; I'm sure TT and SafeCast have thought of this,
and that this wouldn't work, but has anyone tried it, and what was the
result?&nbsp; For those who have TurboTax on two computers, it shouldn't
be difficult to find files created matching the installation date and time,
and comparing them.&nbsp; In keeping with the suspicious intent of SafeCast,
I would think they would be "hidden", "read-only" and/or "system" files.
<br>--
<br>"A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses;
<br>it is an idea that possesses the mind."&nbsp; Robert Bolton
<br>Criswell The Psychic Weatherman
<br>ssenate@mindless.com
<br>&nbsp;</html>

--------------A45264E3D5D4D38FAAB7AEF9--